Stretching and fitting device



ATTORNEYzS J. PETTY STRETCHING AND FITTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 27. 1936 July 12, 1938.

m il. A I Ill 7555 :5: r

Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES ATET FltlE Application October 2'7,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stretching and fitting devices, and has particular relation to devices for stretching, shaping and fitting leather, hide, and fur skins. Stretching 5 and fitting devices of this character are generally referred to as kyles and are particularly'suitable for use in shaping and fitting skins and the like in the manufacture of fur garments, such as fitted or semi-fitted fur coats.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved stretching and fitting device of the type commonly referred to as a kyle, which is simple in operation; is provided with improved adjusting means so that the amount or degree of fitting or stretching can be regulated and controlled, and in which the clamping mechanism is provided with improved operating means.

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig, 1 is a side elevation partially in section of one form of stretching and fitting device embodying my invention, the clamping mechanism being shown in clamping position in full lines and in elevated position in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section showing the clamp blade adjusted to a partly elevated position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of device embodying my invention.

Referring more specifically to the first four figures of the drawing, the numeral l0 indicates a base or supporting member preferably formed of a pair of metallic angle plates or strips, each having a horizontal portion 1 I adjacent the lower portion thereof and an upwardly extending vertical portion I2 formed integral therewith. The horizontal portions I l are formed with openings l4 to receive nails, screws, or tacks for securing the clamping device to a furriers board or table, the holes preferably being stamped through from the bottom of the plates so as to provide a flange l5, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. It will be seen that due to the flange IS, the head of the screw, tack or nail can force the horizontal portion H of the plate into intimate contact with the table top or furriers board, thereby firmly holding the device in position.

The angle plates of the base are preferably held in spaced relation by means of connecting pins [6 and I1 extending through the vertical portions 1936, Serial No. 107,753

l2, which are held in spaced relation by means of spacing collars disposed around the pins i6 and H, the pins I6 and I? further serving as pivotal connecting points for other elements of the device, as will be later explained. Formed integral with the forward end of the vertical portions 52 of the angle plates are upwardly projecting tongues [9, each preferably being provided with an arcuate forward wall 20 along which suitable markings or indicia 2| may be arranged, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper ends of the tongues l 9 may be held together in spaced relation by means of a suitable spacing member l9, which may be soldered, welded, or otherwise suitably secured to the two members [9.

To serve as a support and an adjusting guide for the clamp blade, as will be later described, I provide a horizontal projecting portion 22, which extends and is supported between the two vertical portions l2 of the angle plates and is suitably connected thereto, as indicated at 23 in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the projecting portion is provided with a rounded top and is somewhat broader than the intermediate portion tapering both horizontally and vertically to a point, as indicated at 24. The intermediate portion between the tapered rounded end 24 and the connecting end 23 is provided with a longitudinal slot 25 and with a rack 26 along its upper surface, the rack 26 having its teeth arranged so that the vertical sides thereof face towards the end 24.

So that the furs or skins which are to be treated may be supported or shaped to any desired amount, I provide an adjustable clamp blade 28, which is preferably made of metal and is generally U shape in cross section. The clamp blade is pivoted adjacent its outer end, as at 29, to the projecting portion 22 just inside the rounded tapered portion 24, and the opposite end of the blade is provided with a guiding lug 30 which extends between the two tongues I9 as shown. In this way the clamp blade 28 may be adjusted to various relative heights. The angle of the upper surface of the portion 2 1 is preferably simi lar to the angle of the upper surface of the clamp blade 28 when the blade is in its lowermost position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, thereby forming a continuous line. When the clamp blade is raised to elevated position, as shown in Fig. 3, there is a slight dip or break in the line of the upper surface.

In using my device, the furs or skins to be stretched are first secured tautly over the top of the blade 28, and the amount or degree to which the skins are stretched depends upon the height of the blade 25'. So that the blade 28 may be conveniently adjusted and held at any desired height, I provide a slide 3| disposed on the member 22 and which is provided with a pin 32 extending through the slot 25, and is provided on its inner surface with teeth which are engageable with the teeth of the rack 26. The pin 32 has loose engagement with the slot 25 in order to permit elevation of the slide 3| a suflicient amount so that the teeth therein will disengage the teeth of the rack. The slide is of sufficient width to engage the under surface of the depending aprons of the blade 28, and by shifting the slide along the member 22 the blade can be adjusted to various heights, and due to the provision of the rack 26 and the interengaging teeth 33 the blade will be held against accidental dis-- placement. If the depending aprons on the two sides of the blade 28 are of considerable width, cut out portions may be provided adjacent the inner ends thereof, as indicated at 34, for receiving the slide 3| and thereby permit the blade to be shifted to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 1. The cut out portions may be of various sizes and shapes or may be eliminated entirely if desired. 7

As previously explained, in using my device the skins or furs are stretched over the blade 28. In order to clamp the skins or furs around the blade so as to insure the proper fitting and shaping, I provide a clamping device 35, which consists of a pair of spaced angle plates, each formed of a horizontal portion 3'? and a vertical portion 38, the horizontal portion preferably tapering from a rectangular plate 39 overlying the end of the base I to a point at the opposite end, and the vertical portion preferably tapering from its pivoted end towards its free end to a slight degree. The clamping device 36 is pivotally secured to the base i4 by means of the pin ll extending through the vertical portions 38 thereof, and the opposite ends of the two plates are held in spaced relation as by means of a pin and spacing collar 40.

The clamping device 36 is formed somewhat like a bell crank lever, the two vertical portions 38 having upwardly extending arms 4| formed integral therewith. So that the clamping device may be operated in a simple manner, I preferably provide a pair of links 42 and 43, respectively, which are pivoted together as at 44, the link 42 being pivoted by a pin 45 to the upper end of the arms 4| and the link 43 being pivoted by the pin It to the base portion. To facilitate the manipulation of the links and to prevent their accidental release, I provide a combined handle and guard member comprising a curved handle 46 secured to or integral with the link 43 and provided with a flat guard portion 47 extending past the pivotal connection between the links 42 and 43 on the upper surface thereof, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1, thereby permitting the links to break in one direction only. The guard portion 4? and the links 42 and 43 are so formed that when the clamping device is in clamping position they will prevent the clamping device from being accidentally shifted from that position, the portion 4'! preventing breaking of the links unless the handle 46 is pulled outwardly. By grasping the handle 46 and pulling it outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, due to the interconnection between the links and the arms 4|, the clamping device 36 will be raised to elevated position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The clamping device is so formed that when it is in clamping position the vertical portions 38 are disposed on the two sides of the clamping blade 28.

The pins IE, IT and 45, in addition to serving as pivotal connections between the moving parts as explained, also serve as spacers between the two plates forming the base If] and the two plates forming the clamping member 36, and for this purpose suitable spacing collars may be assembled around the pins. The clamping blade 28 is preferably provided with a marker 48 to indicate the relative height of the blade.

Referring now to the form of the device shown in Fig. 5, the base or supporting member I0 is preferably of the same construction, with the exception that the tongues l9 are preferably formed with slots 50 having suitable markings or indicia arranged along the edge to indicate the relative adjustment of the clamp blade. The clamp blade 28 is somewhat longer than the blade 28 and it is pivoted at approximately its central portion, as indicated at tothe horizontal member 22, which in turn is pivoted to the base It at 52 and projects laterally therefrom, the member .22 corresponding to the member 22 in the first form of my invention. The left half of the blade 28, as viewed in Fig. 5, is approximately U shaped in cross section so as to receive the member 22, and the relative height of the blade is adjusted by means of the slide 3| corresponding to slide 3|, which is disposed on and shiftable along the member 22. The blade 28' may be lowered by shifting the slide to the left and may be raised by shifting the slide to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5. So that the relative height of the blade is held against accidental displacement, I preferably provide serrations or teeth 26 along the upper surface of the member 22, which are similar tothe serrations 26. The upper surface of the blade is preferably provided with a slight dip or bow as this produces the most satisfactory stretching surface. At the end of the blade 28 a pointer 53 is formed, which, in co-operation with the markings along the slot 50, serves to indicate the relative adjustment of the blade. Adjacent the pointer the blade is provided with a pin 54, which extends through the slot 50 and guides the shifting of the blade. The remaining mechanism of my clamping device, including the clamping member l0, and the operating mechanism consisting of the lever 4|, the pivoted links 42 and 43, and the handle 45, are the same as in the first form of my invention and, accordingly, need no further description here as they have been fully described above.

In Fig. 5, the clamping blade 28' is shown in full lines in its lowermost position, with the pin 54 in engagement with the lower end of the slot 50 and with the blade resting on the surface of the table. In dotted lines the blade is illustrated in partly elevated position, the slide having been shifted along the member 22. It will be seen that when the blade 28 is elevated the member 22', due to the pivotal connection 52, likewise pivots upwardly as shown in dotted lines. In order that the blade 28 may be shifted to lowermost position, and in order to secure more accurate adjustment the depending aprons formed on the sides of the blade adjacent the left-hand end thereof, as viewed in Fig. 5, may be cut away, as indicated at 55, so as to receive the slide 3| when shifted towards the inner end of the member 22.

In using my device, it is first suitably secured in position on a furriers board or table by means of tacks, nails, or screws extending through the apertures Hi, and the clamping member 36 is raised to elevated position by'pivoting the handle it outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The blade 28' or 23 is then adjusted to the proper height by shifting the slide 3! or M to the proper position along.the member 22 or 22. The operator can readily determir e the proper height by means of the markingson the tongue IS. The leather or fur which is to be stretched,'fitted, or shaped having been first treated or softened in the usual manner, as by being moistened, is then extended tautly across the blade 28 or 28 and is tacked to the table or furriers board. The clamp 36 is then lowered to the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, by pressing the handle it inwardly, with the result that the leather or fur will be stretched tightly around the blade. It will be appreciated that the links &2 and it and handle portion 4'! will prevent the clamping device from being accidentally shifted from clamping position. The leather or fur is left in this position until it has permanently assumed the desired size and shape.

My device may be used for stretching leather and fur for many different purposes, but, as above pointed out, it is particularly suited for shaping and fitting garments, particularly fur coats of the fitted or semi-fitted type.

It should be understood that many modifications may be made in the illustrated and described embodiments without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A stretching and fitting device comprising a relatively thin elongated member, a clamping device for clamping the article to be stretched over said member, and means shiftable longitudinally of said member for adjusting its relative height with respect to the clamping device.

2. A stretching and fitting device comprising a relatively thin elongated member having a pivotal mounting so that it may be shifted to adjust its relative height, a clamping device for clamping the article to be stretched over said member, and means shiftable longitudinally of said member and in engagement therewith for adjusting the relative height of said member with respect to the clamping device.

3. A stretching and fitting device comprising a relatively thin elongated member having a pivotal mounting so that it may be shifted to adjust its relative height, a clamping device for clamping the article to be stretched over said member, and means shiftable longitudinally of said member along the under surface thereof for adjusting the relative height of said member.

4. A stretching and fitting device comprising a base, a relatively elongated member, a clamping device pivotally mountedon said base adjacent said member so as to be shiftable from elevated position above said member to clamping position with portions disposed around said member, and means including a plurality of pivotally connected links, one link being pivoted to said clamping device and another to said base for shifting said.

clamping member and said links having a guard associated therewith for engaging the links and releasably retaining the clamping device in clamping position.

5. A stretching and fitting device comprising a base, a relatively elongated member, a clamping device pivotally mounted on said base adjacent said member so as to be shift-able from elevated position above said member to clamping position with portions disposed around said member, and means including a pair of pivotally connected links, one link being pivoted to said clamping member and the other link to said base for shifting said clamping member and holding it in clamping position, said links being disposed in a straight line when the clamping device is in clamping position.

6. A stretching and fitting device comprising a base, a relatively elongated member, a clamping device pivotally mounted on said base adjacent said member so as to be shiftable from elevated position above said member to clamping position with portions disposed around said member, and means including a pair of pivotally connected links, one link being pivoted to said clampingmember and the other link to said base for shifting said clamping member and holding it in clamping position, said links being disposed in a straight line when the clamping device is in clamping position, and having an operating handle associated therewith formed so that the links may be pivoted in one direction only.

7. A stretching and fitting device comprising a base, a relatively thin elongated member having a pivotal mounting so that it may be shifted to adjust its relative height, a clamping device pivotally mounted on said base adjacent said member so as to be shiftable from elevated position above said member to clamping position with portions disposed around said member, means for adjusting the height of the elongated member,

and means including a plurality of pivotally connected links for shifting said clamping device and for holding it in clamping position.

8. A stretching and fitting device comprising a base, a relatively thin elongated member having a pivotal mounting so that it may be shifted to adjust its relative height, a clamping device pivotally mounted on said base adjacent said member so as to be shiftable from elevated position above said member to clamping position with portions disposed around said member, means shiftable longitudinally of said member and in engagement therewith for adjusting the height of the member, and means including a plurality of pivotally connected links for shifting said clamping device and for holding it in clamping position.

9. A stretching and fitting device comprising a base having a horizontally extending relatively thin elongated projecting portion secured thereto, a relatively thin elongated member pivoted to the projecting portion, a spaced distance from the end thereof so that it may be shifted to adjust its relative height, means shiftable along the projecting portion for adjusting the height of the elongated member, and a clamping device pivoted to the base so as to be shiftable from elevated position above said elongated member and projecting portion to clamping position with portions surrounding said elongated member and projecting portion.

10. A stretching and fitting device comprising a having a horizontally extending relatively thin elongated projecting portion secured thereto, a relatively thin elongated member pivoted to the projecting portion a spaced distance from the end thereof so that it may be shifted to adjust its relative height, means shiftable along the projecting portion for adjusting the height of the elongated member, and a clamping device pivoted to the base so as to be shiftable from elevated position above said elongated member and projecting portion to clamping position with porbe shifted to adjust its relative height, means shiftable along the elongated member for adjusting the height of the clamping blade, and a clamping device pivoted to the base so as to be shiftable from elevated position above said clamping blade to clamping position with portions surrounding said clamping blade.

JOSEPH PETTY. 

